Oxidation resistant iron-chromium alloy



United States Patent Ofitice 3,027,252 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 3,027,252 OXIDATION RESISTANT IRON-CHROMIUM ALLOY James A. McGurty, Cincinnati, and John F. Collins, Hamilton, Ohio, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York No Drawing. Filed Sept. 29, 1959, Ser. No. 843,300 3 Claims. (Cl. 75-126) This invention relates to high temperature, oxidation resistant alloys and, more particularly, to alloys of iron, chromium, aluminum and yttrium.

For applications in air, the field of high temperature metallurgy is, for most practical purposes, limited to the utilization of oxidation resistant iron base and nickel base alloys, and the use of even these materials is limited to temperatures not in excess of 2000 F. The only other generally available materials which might be expected to have useful strength, oxidation resistance above 2000 F. and workability are chromium base or ironchromium base alloys. While high temperature, high strength, structural, chromium base and iron-chromium base alloys do exist, the usefulness of such alloys has been limited by oxide film formation on the surface of such alloys which does not afford sufiicient protection against further oxidation at high temperatures. The chromium oxide film which is formed during heating of the metal in air provides some useful protection at temperatures up to 2000 F. Above this temperature, oxidation is sufi'iciently rapid to discourage use of the metal at such elevated temperatures.

In copending application, Serial No. 842,517, filed September 26, 1959, in the names of James A. McGurty and John F. Collins, a ternary oxidation resistant ironchromium alloy is disclosed and claimed which consists of from 0.5 to 5.0 weight percent yttrium, from 20.0 to 95.0 weight percent chromium, and the balance being iron. Iron-chromium base alloys with small amounts of yttrium are stable in air to temperatures well above 2000" F. These ternary alloys of iron, chromium and yttrium have good oxidation resistance at temperatures in excess of 2000 F.

Iron-chromium base alloys which would provide high strength, good oxidation resistance and cladding protection for base alloys at temperatures in excess of 2000 F. are desirable. The invention of the present application provides such iron-chromium base alloys with improved workability and an improved oxide film.

It is an object of our invention to provide an alloy of iron, chromium, aluminum and yttrium.

It is another object of our invention to provide an iron-chromium base alloy with an improved oxide film.

It is another object of our invention to provide an ironchromium base alloy with improved workability.

It is a further object of our invention to provide an alloy which has superior oxidation resistance at temperatures in excess of 2.000 F.

In carrying out my invention in one form, from 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent aluminum, and from 0.5 to 3.0 weight percent yttrium are combined with an iron-chromium base alloy having from 20.0 to 95.0 weight percent chromium and the balance of iron to provide a high temperature, oxidation resistant alloy with improved workability and an improved oxide film.

These and various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description.

We discovered unexpectedly that small additions of aluminum and yttrium to iron-chromium base alloys producd alloys which had superior oxidation resistance in air at temperatures in excess of 2000 F., improved workability, and improved oxide films. The addition of from 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of aluminum, and from 0.5 to 3.0 weight percent yttrium to iron-chromium alloys having from 20.0 to 95.0 weight percent chromium and the balance of iron provided these extraordinary effects. While this weight percent of aluminum improved this alloy, 3.0 weight percent aluminum appeared to be the optimum amount of this addition to the alloy. Such an alloy, containing 3.0 weight percent aluminum, provided an enamel, thermal shock resistant, non-spelling film to temperatures slightly below the melting point of 2600 F. to 2700 F.

During the research which led to the discovery of these oxidation resistant iron-chromium alloys, a series of small vacuum melted iron-chromium-aluminum-yttrium buttons were prepared. These alloy buttons, containing from 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent aluminum, from 0.5 to 3.0 weight percent yttrium, from 20.0 to .0 weight percent chromium and the balance of iron, were heated in air at 2300" F. for hours. The specimens were then examined metallographically and weight changes measured. The data tabulated in Table I shows the excellent stability of the iron-chromium base alloys containing aluminum and yttrium as compared with iron-chromium base alloys. 'Iable H shows the improved workability of as compared with Fe-25Cr-5Al-1Y.

TABLE I Oxidation Resistant Iron-Chromium Alloys [100 hours, air, 2300 F.]

TABLE II Workability of Iron-Chromium Alloys Additions workability Hot rolling-splits hot short. FB-25CTT5AIT1Y {Cold rolling-creche. Fc-25Gr0.5AllY- Gold rolls readily. Fe-250r1.5AllY D0.

Do. Do. Cold rolls after annealing.

While other modifications of this invention which may be employed within the scope of the invention have not been described, the invention is intended to include all such as may be embraced within the following claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An alloy of iron, chromium, aluminum and yttrium which consists of from 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent aluminum, from 0.5 to 3.0 weight percent yttrium, from 2 0.0 to 95.0 weight percent chromium, and the balance being iron.

2. An alloy of iron, chromium, aluminum and yttrium which consists of 3.0 weight percent aluminum, from 0.5 to 3.0 weight percent yttrium, from 20.0 to 95.0 weight percent chromium, and thebalance being iron.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rohn Nov. 17, 1936 Glaser Nov. 19, 1957 

3. AN ALLOY OF IRON, CHROMIUM, ALUMINUM AND YTTRIUM WHICH CONSISTS OF 3.0 WEIGHT PERCENT ALUMINUM, 1.0 WEIGHT PERCENT YTTRIUM, 25.0 WEIGHT PERCENT CHROMIUM, AND THE BALANCE BEING IRON. 